Fay was waiting for me
at the top of Meadow Row
I was on my way home
from school
-I'd walked home
as I’d spent my fare money
on doughnuts that morning-
she looked agitated
her blonde hair
was in two ponytails
her eyes looked red
as if she'd been crying
thought I’d missed your bus
she said
no I walked
I said
what's up?
she took my hand
and we walked down
Meadow Row
walking past
the bomb sites
and the ruins
of other houses
I’ve lost my rosary
she said
I can't find it
what's a rosary?
I asked
a crucifix with beads
I showed you
the other week
O that bead thing
so what's the problem?
can't you buy another?
it was my grandmother's
old one
well buy her another one
I said
I can't she died
last year
well she won't
need it then
will she
I said
she stopped
but Daddy will want
to know why I lost it
and then he'll go off
the deep end
and I know
he'll punish me
and it wasn't my fault
she began to cry
and I didn't know
what to say or do
where do you keep it?
I asked
in my coat pocket
so it's handy
if I want to use it
and it's not there now?
she shook her head
and put her hand
in the pocket
of her coat
is that the coat
you always wear?
she nodded
what about Sundays?
she looked at me
today's Monday
maybe you left it
in your coat you
wear on Sundays
I said
she looked at me
with reddened eyes
of course I forgot
it must be in
my Sunday coat
from yesterday
let's go find out
I said
but what if Daddy's there?
so what?
I said
he doesn't like me
being with you
because you're not
a Catholic
I’ll wait outside
on the balcony
if he is
I said
so we walked up
Meadow row
and crossed over
Rockingham Street
and up the slope
and into the Square
and along to the flats
and up the concrete staircase
to her parent's flat
which was above
where I lived
she knocked and her mother
let her in
and I stood on the balcony
looking into the Square
after 5 minutes or so
she opened the door
smiling and said
it was in my Sunday coat
all the time
and she kissed my cheek
I knew then
I’d not wash
that area of my face
the whole week.
May 26, 2015
May 26, 2015 at 4:23 AM UTC
Fay was waiting for me
at the top of Meadow Row
I was on my way home
from school
-I'd walked home
as I’d spent my fare money
on doughnuts that morning-
she looked agitated
her blonde hair
was in two ponytails
her eyes looked red
as if she'd been crying
thought I’d missed your bus
she said
no I walked
I said
what's up?
she took my hand
and we walked down
Meadow Row
walking past
the bomb sites
and the ruins
of other houses
I’ve lost my rosary
she said
I can't find it
what's a rosary?
I asked
a crucifix with beads
I showed you
the other week
O that bead thing
so what's the problem?
can't you buy another?
it was my grandmother's
old one
well buy her another one
I said
I can't she died
last year
well she won't
need it then
will she
I said
she stopped
but Daddy will want
to know why I lost it
and then he'll go off
the deep end
and I know
he'll punish me
and it wasn't my fault
she began to cry
and I didn't know
what to say or do
where do you keep it?
I asked
in my coat pocket
so it's handy
if I want to use it
and it's not there now?
she shook her head
and put her hand
in the pocket
of her coat
is that the coat
you always wear?
she nodded
what about Sundays?
she looked at me
today's Monday
maybe you left it
in your coat you
wear on Sundays
I said
she looked at me
with reddened eyes
of course I forgot
it must be in
my Sunday coat
from yesterday
let's go find out
I said
but what if Daddy's there?
so what?
I said
he doesn't like me
being with you
because you're not
a Catholic
I’ll wait outside
on the balcony
if he is
I said
so we walked up
Meadow row
and crossed over
Rockingham Street
and up the slope
and into the Square
and along to the flats
and up the concrete staircase
to her parent's flat
which was above
where I lived
she knocked and her mother
let her in
and I stood on the balcony
looking into the Square
after 5 minutes or so
she opened the door
smiling and said
it was in my Sunday coat
all the time
and she kissed my cheek
I knew then
I’d not wash
that area of my face
the whole week.
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